b'student perspectiveISABEL CORDOVA 19in research for an exhibition proposal examining the intersections of race and American sculpture through-out history. Little did I know I would be drowning in a cubicle of catalogues and object files, and scannininfiniteolls of microfilm! Inspi ed and dazed, I left the Smithsonian with another major, American studies, and the beginnings of my ongoing research and museum capstone project, Difficult Object . After living in the archives for most of my Smith career, I was eager to get back to the studio. As I was installing my artwork for the final exhibition,I learned about the artist assistant opportunity and applied the same day. I had an incredible time deeply contemplating, researching and discussing the conceptual and practical processes of Amanda Williams work. I SMEARING CADMIUM RED, YELLOW OCHRE,was exposed to the inner workings of a contemporary aquamarine blue, with the occasional smudge of titaniumartists daily routineproject proposals, reading and white across the table, we thought we had invented awriting contracts, studio visits, naps and meetings37new kind of printmaking as we rushed to transfer oilwith entire networks of people supporting the work. paint to paper. Hands swirling across the surfaces toNot only did I have the opportunity to work with staff create an impression on the opposite side, we peeledat SCMA and beyond, I got to connect with Williams back the curling canvas to pin all 10 feet of it to the wall.family since they lived with her on campus through-We werent sure how to classify the mark-making otherout the residency. Next to her paintings and collages, than what Amanda Williams calls painting behavior. her daughters posted drawings, comics and letters Working as Williams studio assistant duringscribbled that day at summer camp. Throughout the SCMAs inaugural artist residency was a unique andexperience, I recognized the power that art has to bring satisfying culmination of my years at Smith. In my firs people together and was intensely satisfied when thesemester, I applied for a portfolio review and declaredresidency ended with a hugely popular Open Studio.my major in studio art. I was eager to get involved withThe dynamic opportunities presented to me any and every art-related organization and activity onthrough the Museums Concentration were like nothing campus. I was first int oduced to SCMA while studyingI had experienced in my studies to that point. Although printmaking, drawings and paintings for my studioI am still uncertain of what comes post-Smith, the and art history courses. Later, I volunteered for publicprogram instilled tremendous confidence in me and aevents like Family Day and Second Fridays. I dove intopassion for inquiry, challenge and relationships that I the Museums Concentration after learning about theknow will be an invaluable resource wherever I go. Smith at Smithsonian program my sophomore year. Fortunately placed in an art museum, I worked with the Smithsonian American Art Museums curator ofIsabel Cordova 19 was a studio art and American studies major,Museums Concentrator, and project assistant to Amanda Williamssculpture, Karen Lemmey. That fall, I was immersedduring Smiths artist-in-residence program, summer 2019.student perspective: Isabel Cordova 19'